Diaspora (an open source Facebook alternative) is currently in development and alpha testing. Apparently one of the developers, Sarah Mei, decided your gender shouldn't be a dropdown menu of male or female. She made it a text box where you can just put in what ever you like. Read are blog post and I am curious what you think....

Disalienation: Why Gender is a Text Field on Diaspora

Am I missing something? is this supposed to be controversial or something?

Apparently the human race has evolved past just having Males and Females.

Apparently the human race has evolved past just having Males and Females.

 

Pretty sure there have been intersex people for a long time

Apparently the human race has evolved past just having Males and Females.

 

More correctly, we evolved from asexual or unisexual ancestors, and the male-female split isn't quite as clear as what's hanging (or not) between or legs.

Apparently the human race has evolved past just having Males and Females.

 

As I understand it, this would be the correct way to use the term gender.

 

Gender is a personal description of your sexuality while "sex" is the biological description. At least, I am pretty sure that's how the law views the terms.

As I understand it, this would be the correct way to use the term gender.

 

Gender is a personal description of your sexuality while "sex" is the biological description. At least, I am pretty sure that's how the law views the terms.

 

I think maybe it's more psychological than your sexuality. But you are 100% right--sex is biological; gender is not necessarily the same.

I think maybe it's more psychological than your sexuality. But you are 100% right--sex is biological; gender is not necessarily the same.

Thank you for the clarification. that actually makes more sense now.

I think maybe it's more psychological than your sexuality. But you are 100% right--sex is biological; gender is not necessarily the same.

 

And in cases like the South African runner, even biological sex isn't cut and dry.

Diaspora sounds like an RX for an std, does it not?

 

As for the drop down menu, what would you type in instead of selecting? What are the alternatives?

What are the alternatives?

 

Male, Female, Shack, Rock, Kap, and my favorite Soxy

Male, Female, Shack, Rock, Kap, and my favorite Soxy

Why bother even having it as a question, I guess, is my query?

Gender is incredibly fluid. I have a lot of friends who identify as Gender Queer. They may be biologically male or female, but they don't necessarily identify that way.